I am deeply troubled by Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services, which refuses to grant a religious exemption to Catholic adoption agencies who place children with a family of a man and a woman (“Catholics halt adoption, foster care programs in Greensburg, Pittsburgh over state rule.”) According to a 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics report, ”Fathers do not parent like mothers, nor are they a replacement for mothers when they are not at home; they provide a unique dynamic and important contribution to the family and children.” Same-sex couples do not give a child the unique parenting of both genders, male and female.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child advocates that the well-being of children should be of utmost importance in considering public policy. Apparently, Gov. Tom Wolf did not take children into consideration when he signed the executive order that included a nondiscrimination clause on sexual orientation and gender identity.

All adoption agencies must sign a contract to place children with same-sex couples who are interested in adopting, regardless of what the studies show is best for children. Religious and conscience beliefs of the agencies are not even considered.

Bernadette Cymbor

North Huntingdon

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